NameCensus.

UK surname

Moura

A Portuguese toponymic surname referring to someone from any of several places called Moura, meaning "moorish town".

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swindon, Brent and Newham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Moura is 233 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has changed.

1881 census count

-

Modern count

233

2016, ranked #17,625

Peak year

2016

233 bearers

Map years

2

2006 to 2016

Key insights

  • The latest modern count shown here is 233 in 2016, ranked #17,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 11 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Young Families.

Moura surname distribution map

The map shows where the Moura surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Moura surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Moura over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 7 #32,070
1861 historical 8 #32,887
1891 historical 11 #33,268
1997 modern 64 #31,233
1998 modern 70 #30,968
1999 modern 66 #31,509
2000 modern 70 #31,180
2001 modern 65 #31,501
2002 modern 76 #30,830
2003 modern 87 #29,615
2004 modern 100 #27,964
2005 modern 123 #24,663
2006 modern 135 #23,486
2007 modern 135 #23,824
2008 modern 157 #21,766
2009 modern 168 #21,290
2010 modern 197 #19,640
2011 modern 174 #21,096
2012 modern 192 #19,730
2013 modern 208 #19,041
2014 modern 215 #18,764
2015 modern 222 #18,225
2016 modern 233 #17,625

Geography

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Where Mouras are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swindon, Brent, Newham and Ipswich. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swindon 022 Swindon
2 Brent 018 Brent
3 Brent 024 Brent
4 Newham 031 Newham
5 Ipswich 006 Ipswich

Forenames

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First names often paired with Moura

These lists show first names that appear often with the Moura surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Moura

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Moura, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Ethnically Diverse Young Families

Nationally, the Moura surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Young Families, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Moura household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many younger parents born overseas (particularly in Africa or EU countries) with children aged 0-4. Individuals identifying as of Mixed or Multiple ethnicities are also common. English may not be the primary language spoken. Accommodation consists principally of flats, and many properties are socially rented and/or overcrowded. Students are also present, unemployment is common, and other adults tend to work in low skilled jobs.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Moura is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Moura is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Moura falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Moura is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Moura, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Moura

The surname Moura has its origins in Portugal, where it first emerged in the 14th century. It is believed to be derived from the Portuguese word "moura," which means "Moorish" or "Muslim," referring to the Moors who ruled parts of the Iberian Peninsula for several centuries. The name may have been given to those who had connections with the Moorish culture or who lived in areas formerly under Moorish rule.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Moura can be found in medieval Portuguese documents from the 15th century. During this time, the name was often associated with noble families and individuals of prominence in Portuguese society. For example, João de Moura was a prominent military commander who served under King João II in the late 15th century.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Moura surname began to spread beyond Portugal's borders as Portuguese explorers and settlers established colonies in various parts of the world. One notable figure from this period was Diogo de Moura Corte-Real, a Portuguese navigator and explorer who led expeditions to the northern regions of North America in the late 16th century.

As the Portuguese empire expanded, the surname Moura became associated with various place names and locations across the globe. For instance, Moura, a town in southern Portugal, and Moura, a municipality in Brazil, both bear this name, likely due to the influence of early Portuguese settlers in these areas.

Throughout history, several individuals with the surname Moura have left their mark in various fields. In the 19th century, José Joaquim de Moura Coutinho was a Brazilian politician and diplomat who played a crucial role in the independence movement of Brazil. Another notable figure was Manuel de Moura Filho, a Brazilian writer and journalist who lived from 1893 to 1952.

In the 20th century, the surname Moura gained further recognition with individuals such as Viriato da Cruz Moura, a Portuguese writer and literary critic born in 1939, and Helder Moura Pereira, a Portuguese film director and screenwriter born in 1964. Additionally, Flávio Moura, a Brazilian footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s, and Lúcia Moura, a Brazilian actress and singer born in 1975, have also carried this surname with distinction.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Moura surname: questions and answers

How common is the Moura surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 233 in 2016. That gives Moura a modern rank of #17,625.

What does the Moura surname mean?

A Portuguese toponymic surname referring to someone from any of several places called Moura, meaning "moorish town".

What does the Moura map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Moura bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.